Paris. September 16. INTERFAX-The decision announced by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to build nuclear submarines (submarines) within the framework of the new AUKUS alliance has caused outrage in the French government.
"This decision contradicts the letter and spirit of the cooperation that existed between France and Australia," French Foreign Ministers Jean - Yves Le Drian and the armed forces Florence Parly said in a joint statement.
It notes that this " marks a lack of coherence, which France can only regret and observe."
Australia's decision to build nuclear submarines in cooperation with the United States and Britain, rather than buying them from a French firm, is "regrettable," the French Foreign Ministry said.
The statement emphasizes: "An American choice that leads to the removal of such an ally and European partner as France from a long-standing partnership with Australia, while we are facing unprecedented challenges in the Indo-Pacific region... It notes the lack of consistency, which France cannot fail to note and what it can not regret."
As reported, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the construction of nuclear submarines for the Australian Navy will be the first initiative under the new AUKUS alliance, reported.
"The first major initiative of AUKUS will be the delivery of a nuclear submarine fleet for Australia. Over the next 18 months, we will work together to determine the best way to achieve this goal. We intend to build these submarines in Adelaide (Australia) in close cooperation with the United Kingdom and the United States," Morrison said during a joint presentation of the new alliance.
